Classic Electronic Organs

[Brianc]

Another sort of "organ" was a Mellotron which was, in fact, the first form of sampler. It used about 52 3 track magnetic tapes each carrying one note of a particular instrument, the 52 tapes giving 4 octaves of flute or trumpet (say). Depressing a key of the standard layout keyboard cause the appropriate tape to be pulled past a playback head to generate the tone. At the release of the key, the tape was rapidly pulled back ready for the next press! A fantastic piece of mechanical and electromagnetic engineering! Very popular in the 1960s (the Beatles Strawberry Fields flute opening was played on a Mellotron!
I have an ex-BBC unit which is presently at Streetley Electronics for refurbishment - I hope to get it back before Christmes!!